1
as in fear
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble
Dorothy's anxiety about her brother's operation kept her awake all night
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dread
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger
the newly discovered virus is creating considerable anxiety in the public at large
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of anxiety
Chris told Fox News Digital that his father quietly struggled with his growing anxiety in his final years.
—
Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Those concerns are coupled with anxieties over Paramount’s plans for widespread layoffs later this year.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
Lo doesn’t need this gig and takes it on a lark; the film instead builds her anxiety by surrounding her with the Bullmers’ rude, wealthy friends, who replace the novel’s media-world characters.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
His latest novel in English, , unfolds in a single sentence and reflects anxieties about rising fascism in Europe.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anxiety
Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Those concerns are coupled with anxieties over Paramount’s plans for widespread layoffs later this year.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
Lo doesn’t need this gig and takes it on a lark; the film instead builds her anxiety by surrounding her with the Bullmers’ rude, wealthy friends, who replace the novel’s media-world characters.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
His latest novel in English, , unfolds in a single sentence and reflects anxieties about rising fascism in Europe.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anxiety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anxiety
Noun
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The fear was that Jayden Daniels would be limited, that the brace on his left knee — or the knee itself — would hinder his running or his elusiveness, eliminate his quick cuts or somehow slow him down.—
Nicki Jhabvala,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Colangelo added that, in these depictions, the fear of transness is more present than the fear of being killed.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The move, which had been expected for weeks, is nonetheless being greeted with dread inside the news division.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Oct. 2025
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But few Dracula adaptations can summon the depth of feeling and atmospheric dread of Tod Browning's 1931 adaptation.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Dreaming of worry-free cleaning?—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
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Washington — Persistent worries about the higher cost of living and few job opportunities pushed consumer sentiment down to its seventh-lowest level in October, on records going back to 1952.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The result, ideally, is the quarterback can trust wherever the ball is going, rather than panic if the first option is covered.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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The scene is nonetheless a nod to the nuance that lies beyond the urgent, all-consuming panic of the unfolding crisis, and a queasy echo of the many such encounters that don’t end so amicably.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Phillies entered the ninth trailing 4-1 and quickly reminded the Dodgers why their bullpen concerns are so loud.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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On the heels of Karen’s sentencing, the women gather at Gizelle’s house to commiserate, and spend the whole scene dancing between concern, empathy, and absurdity.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
News of the deaths ricocheted through the prison system, spreading fear and unease.—
Jennifer Gonnerman,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The university acknowledged receiving messages expressing unease about the event, which was organized by the campus's chapter.—
Michael Ruiz , Stepheny Price , Preston Mizell,
FOXNews.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Or that the hamster her daughter kept begging, begging, begging Linda to get turns out to be a raging, biting terror?—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
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Advertisement An investigation led by the Guardian found in September that out of the 6,000 Palestinians from Gaza held by Israel since the Hamas terror attack two years ago, only one quarter were held on suspicion of militant links.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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From the extensive Halloween playlist from last week, to this playful song, kids learn that the fake frights of Halloween are all just fun and games.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
3 Oct. 2025
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As the decorations go up and the costumes come together, Indy-area neighborhoods, stages, historic sites and more are gearing up for their annual Halloween festivities and frights.—
Domenica Bongiovanni,
IndyStar,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anxiety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anxiety. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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